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American Psycho on DVD (2000)

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Average rating: 70%
12145161620610
3.0
from 5,731 members
 
Starring: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, William Sage, Chloe Sevigny, Guinevere Turner, Reese Witherspoon
Director: Mary Harron
Studio: ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time: 98 mins
Certificate: 18
User collections: My DVD Collection, Bubbling under, Christian Bale Collection, My all-time favourites, My DVD Collection, My Horror Collection, Lads Lifetimes Must See List, Films You Should Watch..., More than just Great Films, Movies that have you thinking
Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Languages: English
Released: 30/10/2000

Brief synopsis of American Psycho

Patrick Bateman is young, white, beautiful, ivy leagued, and indistinguishable from his Wall Street colleagues. Shielded by conformity, privilege, and wealth, Bateman is also the ultimate serial killer, roaming freely and fearlessly. His murderous impulses are fueled by zealous materialism and piercing envy when he discovers someone else has acquired more than he has. After a colleague presents a business card superior in ink and paper to his, Bateman's blood thirst sharpens, and he steps up his homicidal activities to a frenzied pitch. Hatchets fly, butcher knives chop, chainsaws rip, and surgical instruments mutilate-how far will Bateman go? How much can he get away with?

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 4 stars out of 5 Radio Times

Director Mary Harron fought tooth and nail for Christian Bale to play Bret Easton Ellis's smooth yuppie killer (Leonardo DiCaprio was the studio's choice), and her decision is totally vindicated in this dark comedy drama. Bale is brilliant, boasting a flawless American accent and an impressively sculptured physique as the wealthy, successful and psychotic Patrick Bateman. Despite the novel's skin-crawling reputation, most of the violence takes place off-screen. Moreover, the film's satirical swipes at the materialistic 1980s provide laughs amid the carnage, as does Bale's cheesy, game-show host delivery of Bateman's eccentric cultural observations. Aside from a graphic threesome, this is an admirably restrained adaptation, although its cold, aloof tone somehow lessens the impact of Bateman's actions.

Rating of 2 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

A deft, elegant portrait of a self-obsessed, fashionable, design-conscious man descending into psychosis as a result of his obsessions.

Premiere

"...Dead-on, kitsch-free period detail and a wonderfully agitated performance by Bale..." -- 3 out of 5 stars - A Satisfying Rental

See all 6 Critics Reviews »

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 5 starsDon't touch the watch.

JediSi JediSi , 17/08/2007

Have you ever had one of those days where the whole world seems to be against you and you could quite quite easily go mad to the point of ramming everyone the cuts you up on the way home ? This is for you. Excellent acting, great plot, and good camerawork make this film highly enjoyable. It'll have you in stitches and there are some very memorable scenes and quotes that you will involuntarily recall for days afterwards. A truly classic comedy horror. Now, I have to go and return some video tapes.....

  98 out of 129 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsYou will never look at sussudio in the same way again!!!

sakuraba1982 from Dover , 17/08/2007

I watched this film expecting another slasher movie, this film is funny with several scenes sticking in my mind. Down to flexing into the mirror with the ladies of the night to sussudio, to running out of his flat in the buff with a chainsaw, there will be plenty of momnents that stick in your mind.

The lead is played down to a tea with plenty of witty jokes and tounge in cheek murders and gore.

Awesome

  28 out of 34 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsThis is not an exit

SLCpunk [Highly rated reviewer] , 27/03/2005

Without the obviously unfilmable hungry rat scenario and a few other scenes, this film is a great book adaptation.

Christian Bale is amazing (Welsh may I add) capturing the character of Patrik Bateman perfectly. Leo di Caprio who??? The whole feel of the film is loyal to the book, but still captures the essence of watching something new.

This film is from start to finish excellent!

  18 out of 19 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 starsA great film - Dark, violent, but funny

DJM666 from Walsall , 15/01/2006

A great film, which is both interesting and strange (you are not sure what is reality and what is in Patrick Bateman’s mind). The movie has a good cast, with Christian Bale puts on a career making and career best performance as Patrick Bateman, while the rest of the cast all put in good performances as well. Dark, violent (even though the violence and killings take place off-screen), but also funny, you can see why American Psycho became and still is a cult classic.

  13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 4 starsnorman?

A customer from london, england , 01/06/2007

This was more mysterious than funny but fantastic nevertheless. Perfect machine of a movie. I am still confused. Great.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsArmani and Coke, anyone?

williamhage from West Yorkshire , 02/12/2004

Great film, watch it for the review of eighties pop music by the lead character. Watch it for Willem Dafoe's performance as the smart private investigator. Watch it for the interior design triumphs of homes and eating places.

Most of all watch it and be stunned by Christian Bale's portrayal of the troubled (!) Patric Bateman. Bring back the eighties and moneyed New York. Armani and Coke anyone? Pass me the Bollinger, Rupert.

  11 out of 13 people found this review helpful
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